The Latest: Big changes for small fish for fishermen

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The Latest on new limits imposed on herring fishery (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

Big changes are in store for herring fishermen in New England.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says a recent assessment shows the small fish used as bait by lobster and tuna fishermen is in decline.

The New England Fishery Management Council adopted a new formula Tuesday that ties catch limits to assessments of the overall herring population in future years. The council wants to further reduce catch limits to prevent overfishing. But there were no projections available Tuesday.

Herring is a vitally important part of the marine ecosystem, serving as food for whales, seals and large fish.

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6:15 a.m.

Federal fishing managers are considering a host of potentially major changes to the fishery for herring.

Herring is a small, schooling fish that is the subject of a major industry on the East Coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has said a recent assessment of the stock shows the fish in decline.

The regulatory New England Fishery Management Council is set to vote on the future of the herring fishery on Tuesday. The fish are important because they serve as key bait for the lobster and tuna industries.

They are also a vitally important part of the marine ecosystem because they serve as food for whales, seals and large fish. The management council is considering changes that could result in a lower harvest of herring in future years.